Improvement in buffer and draw-bar for railroad-cars



l ling-plates C UNITED STATES EDWARD L. CAUM, oir PATTERSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPRovEMEN-r IN BUFFER A'ND DRAW-BAR FoR RAILRoAD-CARS.

.Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7l ,580, dated December 8, 1867,.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. CAUM, of Patterson, J uniata county, State ofA Pennsyl-l vania, have invented a new and useful Gombined Buffer and Draw-Bar for Railroad-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the artto which the invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

Figure l is an under-side view of a eartruck with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, the line w Fig. l, indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

My invention consists in a novel method of combining the draft-rods with the bumpers and a buffing apparatus, whereby t0 prevent the injurious shocks and strains to which the cars are subjected under the common modes of construction.V

A A are parallel draft-rods situated at either side of the center plates B B', which receive the king-bolts to connect the coach or v car to the truck. These draft-rods may pass A through apertures in the frame-work B of the truck, and are thus guided in rectilinear paths during the longitudinal sliding motion which they receive. They may also be supported and prevented from sagging at the center by a hanger depending from or a staple inserted into the under side of the truck; and for convenience in applying them to-the car each draft-rod may be made in two parts, to be attached together at the center of the car by a bolt and jaw connection, or otherwise. At one end the rods A are provided with nuts or heads a, and upon their opposite ends are cut screw-threads for the reception of the nuts a', by means of which the said rods are confined within and adjusted in relation to the coup- (l. The rods I usually make one and oneleighth (1%) inch in diameter, and the parts upon which the nuts are fitted one and one-fourth (l) inch in diameter. These di` mensions, however, are, of course, varied according to the weight to .be drawn. The holes in the plates through which the ends of the rods A pass are suii'ciently large to permit said plates to move or play freely therein.

.D D are the bumpers arranged to slide in guides at the ends of the frame B, and E are what maybe termed draw-bars, united to and rigidly projecting from the respective bumpers D D. These draw-bars E each pass through a hole in `the middle of its corresponding plate C, and' through another hole in the center of the plate F, and the drawbars E are held therein by a head, nut, or key, as m'ay be convenient. The '.motion of the plates C and F is limited in one direction by the spring Gr, when fully contracted, and in the opposite direction by their respective abutments c and f. (See Fig. 2.) They are held in working position by the guides ff. About each draw-bar E is coiled a spring, G, whose opposite endsabut against the movable plates C and F. The bumpers D are connected to those of the adjacent cars or coaches by links and pins in customary manner.

The above-described method of combining the bumpers, draw-bars, draft-rods, and bulfing apparatus possesses peculiar and important advantages, and effectually subserves objects which have not hitherto been attained.

The application of springs to the running-4 gear to avoid shocks is not regarded as a new expedient, but antecedent devices of this character are either liable to the objection that they subject the frame work to injurious strain in the act of drawing the cars, or expose the draft-rods to constant liability to jammingand bending when the cars come together, or they involve those injurious characters jointly. Now, with my improved draft apparatus, it will be perceived that in use the frame is not subjected to strain by applying at or near one end of the car the draft or drawing power required to move the car, (as is commonly the case,) that the cars are not liable to undue shocks in starting, stopping, or coming together, are not liable to be bent or jammed by force applied to their opposite ends when two or more cars are brought together. Thus, when one of the bumpers D, together with its drawbar E, is drawn forward' by the is not immediately transmitted to that endof the car, but the rods A A and rear plate O and foremost plate F are drawn forward, contracting the springs Gr G, and gradually applying the power to the abutment c at the end and that the draft-rods A A engine, the powerof the car opposite to that where the draft is Having thus described my invention, what applied to the forward bumper. In this way I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letthe car is moved by a pushing action, or, in ters Patent, is other words, impelled from the rear, which The combination of the yielding bumpers entirely obviates the dismemberment or iniu- D D with the sliding rods A A, when said ry which the frame undergoes when pulled at rods are connected by the plates C C, and the forward end, as is commonly practiced. employed in connection with the plates E F, In backing, the same advantage arises, from and bolts or draw-bars E E, and adjusted the fact that the cars are likewise pushed or within the car-frame, and arranged to operate' impelled from the front. substantially as and for the purpose set forth. The cars which are coupled with and stringA ---'Ll"o the above specification of my combined behind the forward car are drawn entirely by buffer and draw-bar for railway-cars, I have the draft apparatus, and none of the weight signed my hand this 31st day of August, A. or strain involved in drawing them is appre- D. 1867. ciated by the forward ear.

When the cars come together the yielding EDWARD L. OAUM. bumpers D transfer the force to the springs G, and the plates C slide back upon the rods Witnesses: A, which are not subject to any bumping vor J. MIDDOGH, jamming action whatever, said rods being R. P. MGWILLIAMS. shorter than the car-frame. 

